Pole gripping mechanism



June 4, 1963 Filed Feb. 15. 1960 B. DA VALLE POLE GRIPPING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BRUNO DaWILLE ATTORNEYS June 1963 B. DA VALLE 3,092,265

POLE GRIPPING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BRUNO DQVALLE ATTORNEYS June 4, 1963 B. DA VALLE POLE GRIPPING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1960 IN V EN TOR. BRUNO Dal44L LE A TTOFPNEV United States Patent I $992,265 PQLE GRIiPlNG MECHANiSh/l Bruno Da Valle, 85 Tully Road, Los Gatos, Qalfi. Filed Feb. 15, 196i), Ser. No. 8,541 4 Claims. (Cl. 2143} This invention relates to an improved pole clip or gripping mechanism for use on pole erecting machines such as are employed for erecting the poles of utility lines.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved pole clip adapted for use on utility pole erecting machines to facilitate the efiicient handling of the poles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pole clip adapted forum on utility pole erecting machines for gripping and handling poles of a wide range of difierent sizes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pole clip that is equipped with means whereby it willeiiiciently grip poles of a wide range of sizes and at the 'same time permit such poles to slide therethrough during the setting thereof into the pole holes.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved pole clip that is adapted to be used on machines employed for erecting utility poles, such as are used in telephone, electric, and similar lines in which poles of substantial and often varying sizes are used. The pole clip of this invention is adapted to grip poles of a wide range of sizes with equal efliciency. For this purpose this pole clip is provided with a pair of pivotally mounted and spring biased jaws that are supported on an arm which is positioned at the top end of the boom of the pole setting machine. An elongated member is also positioned alongside of this boom and the top end of this elongated member is attached to the jaw supporting arm so that the jaws and this arm may be rotated through a predetermined angle with respect to the boom.

Other and further features of this invention will be set forth in the specificationyclaims and drawing in which, briefly:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the pole setting truck equipped with a pole handling boom;

FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail plan view of the pole gripping mechanism positioned at the top of the boom;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of this device with a pole in gripping position.

Referring to the drawing in detail there is shown in FIG. 1 a view of a track equipped with a pole setting boom 12 which is made of telescoping sections and is attached to the top of the tiltable housing 11 of conventional construction. The top end of the pole or boom 12 is provided with a socket 145: to which the plate 14 is attached by weldin or similar processes and this socket is attached to the top of the pole by the bolt 14b. The pole gripping mechanism 13 shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 is attached to the top end of the rod 15 which is positioned in a suitable hole formed in the plate 14 and projects above this plate into the arm 29 to which the pole gripping jaws 22 and 23 are pivotally attached. The pole gripping mechanism 13 may be rotated, between the stops 16 and 17 that are positioned on the plate 14, by manipulating the handle 16 that is attached to the lower portion of the rod 15, whereby the pole gripping mechanism may be oriented to the desired position. The plate amazes Patented June 4, 1963 ice '14 forms a bearing for the rod 15 and in addition a pair of bearings 18 are attached to the lower part of the boom 12 by welding and the like as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The arm 2%? is provided with three holes Zita positioned around the aperture which receives the actuating rod 15 to which the arm 25 is attached. These holes 2tla are adapted to receive the end of a latch rod 21 which is supported by the arm 21a. A spring 211) is provided for urging the latch rod upward into latching engagement with the holes Zlla of the member 2i]. A wire member 19 is attached to the lower end of the latching rod 21 for pulling this rod downward against the action of the spring 21b whereby the rod 21 may be withdrawn out of the engaged hole 29a. The latching rod 21 is provided for locking the arm 26 in any one of three positions as defined by the holes Zilc which it may assume between the stops 16 and 17.

The jaws 22 and 23 of the pole gripping mechanism are preferably of substantially circular cross-section so that they do not present sharp edges to the pole gripped therebetween so that the pole may be slid into the pole hole without snagging. These jaws 22 and 23 are supported on the cross member 2%, which is attached to the outer end of the arm 29, by means of the bolts 24 and 25', respectively. The bolts 24 and 25 are positioned in holes formed in the cross member 20b and they extend up through suitable holes normed in the bridge member 26 which is positioned over the jaws 22 and 23 substantially parallel to the cross member 2812. The ends of the bridge member 25 are provided with depending portions 26a and 2512. These depending portions 26a and Zeb are provided with holes for receiving the bolts 28 and 29 respectively. The bolt 28 extends between the depending member 260 and the end 22a of the jaw 22 which is provided with a suitable hole for receiving this bolt. Likewise the bolt 29 extends between the member 26b and the end 23a of the jaw 23 which is also provided with a bolt receiving hole. Suitable springs 30 and 31 are coiled around the body portions of the bolts 23 and 29 respectively. Thus the spring 30 is positioned between the member 26a and the end 22a of the jaw 22 for exerting spring tension on this jaw tending to close it against the side of a small sized pole A or a large sized pole B. Similarly the spring 31 is positioned on the bolt 29 between the member 26b and the end 23a of the jaw 23 and this spring provides spring tension for urging the jaw 23 against an opposite side of a small sized pole A or a large sized pole B. It will also be seen from FIG. 3 of the drawing that the jaws 22 and 23 are of gradually curved shape whereby they are adapted to receive a wide range of sizes of utility poles therebetween.

When a pole is to be placed in the pole gripping mechanism some of the cable 59 is unwound from the winch Siib so that the hook 5-912 is lowered and the cable may be wrapped around the pole c which is lying on the ground with one end thereof near the hole into which it is to be placed.

The upper end of the boom is provided with a sheave 53 that is 'rotatably supported by the bolt 1412. This sheave is positioned in a suitable recess cut into the top of the boom which is aligned with a cut-away part of the socket member 14a. Sides of the sheave 53 extend out of this recess into the space between the vertical plates 51 and 52 on 'one side of the boom and into the space between the substantially vertically disposed rollers 54 and 55 which are held between the plates 56 and 57 by the bolts 58 and 59 respectively. The plate 56 is attached to the boom below the sheave recess and the plate 57 is attached to the tops of the wedge shaped members 57a and 57b which are welded to the boom along sides of the sheave recess.

The cable 5% is inserted between the rollers 54 and 55 which are rotatably supported on the boom as described above, and thereafter the cable passes over the sheave '53 and then between the plates 51 and 52 down ward to the winch 50b. Thus when the cable is wrapped around a pole as shown in FIG. 6 the pole maybe raised by the winch 5022. During the raising of the pole the cable may engage the guide rollers 54 and 55 which guide the cable to the sheave so that it tracks properly thereon. When the pole is raised up to the boom the pole gripping machanism 13 is rotated if necessary to line the jaws 22 and 23 up with the pole so that the upper part of the pole may be inserted between the jaws 22 and 23 by pulling further on the cable 50 so as to force the pole between the jaws through the open side thereof. Suitable balls 36 and 37 are provided in the jaws 22 and 23 respectively to reduce the friction between the pole being forced into the open side of the jaws. The pole gripping mechanism 13 should be rotated and positioned at an angle such that the pole does not slip out of the jaws during the erecting operation. The pole gripping mechanism is held at this angle by the latch rod 21.

Balls 38 and 39, which are similar to balls 36' and 37, are provided near the inner ends of the pole gripping sections of the jaws 22 and 23 respectively. The purpose of these balls 38 and 39 is to reduce the friction between the jaws and the pole when the pole is being lowered into the hole formed in the ground preparatory to setting the pole.

The balls 36, 37, 38 and 39 are mounted in suitable sockets 40, '41, 42 and 43 respectively, which are attached to the jaws by welding. These devices may be made in the same way as conventional ball casters are made and. each may be provided with a series of small ball bearings positioned in the socket behind the ball and in engagement therewith to reduce friction and permit easy rotation of the ball.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is: j

1. In pole guiding apparatus for use with poles having a wide range of sizes in the setting of such poles in holes formed in the ground, the combination of a boom mounted on a pole handling machine employed for setting polcs of large size such as used in public utility lines, pole guiding apparatus mounted at the top end of said boom, a sheave also mounted at the top end of said boom for receiving a rope which is adapted to be tied to a pole for raising said pole to the pole guiding apparatus and for lowering said pole into the ground during the setting of said pole, said pole guiding apparatus comprising a plate fastened to the top end of the boom of the pole handling machine, an arm extending from said plate, means for rotatably supporting said arm comprising an elongated member attached to said arm and extending therefrom through said plate for pivotally supporting said arm with respect to said plate, said elongated member extending toward the bottom end of said boom for manual rotation of said arm when said boom is in a vertical position, a pair of jaws for slidably receiving a pole therebetween, pivot means for pivotally attaching said jaws to the free end portion of said arm so that said jaws extend laterally from said boom whereby said jaws are adapted to receive said pole therebetween wheh the boom is in substantially erect position, and spring means engaging said jaws adjacent to said pivot mean for urging the pole engaging portions of said jaws toward each other into engagement with said pole, said pole being adapted to slide between said jaws as said pole is guided thereby while it is lowered into said hole by said cable.

2. In pole guiding apparatus for use with pol es having a wide range of sizes in the setting of such poles in holes 4. formed in the ground, the combination of a boom mounted on a pole handling machine employed for setting poles of large size such as used in public utility lines,

pole guiding apparatus mounted at the top end of said boom, a sheave also mounted at the top end of said boom for receiving a rope which is adapted to be tied to a pole for raising the pole to said pole guiding apparatus and for lowering said pole into the ground during the setting of said pole, said pole guiding apparatus comprising a plate, means for adjustably attaching said plate to the top end of said boom of the pole handling machine, a pair of elongated jaws each having oval shape whereby said jaws are adapted for slidably receiving poles therebetween having a wide range of diameters, the pole engaging portions of said jaws being of arcuate configuration, friction reducing means attached to the forward end portions of said jaws to facilitate sliding the pole between said jaws, pivot means for pivotally attaching said jaws to said plate so that the pole engaging portions of said jaws extend laterally from said boom whereby said jaws'are adapted to receive said pole therebetween when said boom is in substantially erect position, the free end portions of said jaws being divergent to receive the pole therebetween, and spring means for said jaws for urging the pole engaging portions of said jaws toward each other into engagement with the pole positioned therebetween, said pole being adapted to slide between said jaws as said pole is guided thereby while it is lowered into said hole by said cable.

3. In pole guiding apparatus for use with poles having a wide range of sizes in the setting of. such poles in holes formed in the ground, the combination of a boom mounted on a pole handling machine employed for setting poles of large size such as used in public utility lines, pole guiding apparatus mounted at the top end of said boom, a sheave also mounted at the top end of said.

boom for receiving a rope which is adapted to be tied to a pole for raising the pole to said pole guiding apparatus and for lowering said pole into the ground during the setting of said pole, said pole guiding apparatus comprising a plate attached to the top end of said boom of the pole handling machine so that said plate extends laterally from said boom, a pair of elongated jaws each having oval shape, friction reducing means attached to the forward end portions of said jaw to facilitate sliding the pole between said jaws, said jaws being adapted to open slidably receiving poles therebetween having a wide range of diameter, a bridge member attached to said plate, said jaws being positioned between said bridge member and said plate, pivot means passing throughsaid bridge, said jaws and said arm for pivotally attaching said jaws to said plate so that said jaws extend laterally from said boom whereby said jaws are adapted to receive said pole therebetween when said boom is in substantially erect position, spring means engaging said jaws adjacent to said pivot means for urging the pole engaging portions of said jaws toward each other into engagement with said pole, and friction reducing means positioned on said jaws to engage said pole and facilitate sliding of said pole between said jaws as said pole is guided thereby while it is lowered into said hole by said cable.

4. In pole guiding apparatus for use with poles having a wide range of sizes in the setting of such poles in holes formed in the ground, the combination of a boom mounted on a pole handling machine employed for setting poles of large size such as used in public utility lines, pole guiding apparatus mounted at the top end of said boom, a sheave also mounted at the top end of said boom for receiving a rope which is adapted to be tied to a pole for raising the pole to said pole guiding apparatus and for lowering the bottom end of said pole into the ground during the setting of said pole, sad pole guid ing apparatus comprising a pair of jaws for slidably engaging a pole therebetween, means for pivotally supporting said jaws on the top end of said boom so that said jaws extend laterally from the top end of said boom, said jaws each having elongated oval shape whereby said jaws are adapted to receive therebetween poles having a wide range of diameters, each of said jaws having a socket at the forward end thereof, each of said jaws also having a socket near the inner end thereof, friction reducing means positioned in said sockets and extending out of said sockets a short distance such that said friction reducing means at the forward ends of said jaws engages the pole as said pole is being moved between said jaws and said friction reducing means near the inner ends of said jaws engage said pole as said pole slides between said jaws during the lowering of said pole into the hole in the ground with said cable when said boom is in substantially erect position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Steiner June 16, Thomas Oct. 10, Perkowski July 22, Hendricks May 24, Tisdale Dec. 26, Westfall Oct. 12, Hallstrom Feb. 8, Neale Nov. 26,

FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 16, 

4. IN A POLE GUIDING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH POLES HAVING A WIDE RANGE OF SIZES IN THE SETTING OF SUCH POLES IN HOLES FORMED IN THE GROUND, THE COMBINATION OF A BOOM MOUNTED ON A POLE HANDLING MACHINE EMPLOYED FOR SETTING POLES OF LARGE SIZE SUCH AS USED IN PUBLIC UTILITY LINES, POLE GUIDING APPARATUS MOUNTED AT THE TOP END OF SAID BOOM, A SHEAVE ALSO MOUNTED AT THE TOP END OF SAID BOOM FOR RECEIVING A ROPE WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE TIED TO A POLE FOR RAISING THE POLE TO SAID POLE GUIDING APPARATUS AND FOR LOWERING THE BOTTOM END OF SAID POLE INTO THE GROUND DURING THE SETTING OF SAID POLE, SAID POLE GUIDING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF JAWS FOR SLIDABLY ENGAGING A POLE THEREBETWEEN, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID JAWS ON THE TOP END OF SAID BOOM SO THAT SAID JAWS EXTEND LATERALLY FROM THE TOP END OF SAID BOOM, SAID JAWS EACH HAVING ELONGATED OVAL SHAPE WHEREBY SAID JAWS ARE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN POLES HAVING A WIDE RANGE OF DIAMETERS, EACH OF SAID JAWS HAVING A SOCKET AT THE FORWARD END THEREOF, EACH OF SAID JAWS ALSO HAVING A SOCKET NEAR THE INNER END THEREOF, FRICTION REDUCING MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID SOCKETS AND EXTENDING OUT OF SAID SOCKETS A SHORT DISTANCE SUCH THAT SAID FRICTION REDUCING MEANS AT THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID JAWS ENGAGES THE POLE AS SAID POLE IS BEING MOVED BETWEEN SAID JAWS AND SAID FRICTION REDUCING MEANS NEAR THE INNER ENDS OF SAID JAWS ENGAGE SAID POLE AS SAID POLE SLIDES BETWEEN SAID JAWS DURING THE LOWERING OF SAID POLE INTO THE HOLE IN THE GROUND WITH SAID CABLE WHEN SAID BOOM IS IN SUBSTANTIALLY ERECT POSITION. 